If you’d love to have a home arcade machine but are worried about how much space a standing cabinet takes up, Arcade1Up’s Countercades are definitely worth checking out–especially when they are on sale like they are now. The Class of ’81 Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga model and the Pac-Man model are discounted to $130 (was $150) at Amazon and Best Buy.
Both of these compact cabinets include three preloaded Namco arcade classics, 7-inch, vertically oriented displays, and full-size arcade controls. It’s worth noting that both models originally launched ahead of the 2024 holiday season and sold out at full price.
Quick look: Arcade1Up Holiday Deals
The two countertop machines are the most affordable products in the Arcade1Up lineup, but retro enthusiasts can also take advantage of great deals on standing cabinets at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Arcade1Up’s Classic Special Edition Cabinets are up for grabs for $284 (was $334), and multiple Deluxe Cabinets are available for up to $150 off. Best Buy just dropped the price of NBA Jam Deluxe to $350 (was $500). At the time of writing, Amazon is still selling it for $400, but we’d recommend double-checking because Amazon is likely to match the deal soon.
$130 (was $150)
The Class of ’81 Countercade has a 7-inch, vertically oriented LCD screen surrounded by Ms. Pac-Man artwork on the left and Galaga artwork on the right. Despite the compact form factor, Arcade1Up Countercades have the same full-size controls found on the manufacturer’s standing cabinets.
Class of ’81 has a red ball-top arcade stick, two yellow buttons, a red button, and switches for power and volume. The marquee has Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, and Class of ’81 logos. Authentic Ms. Pac-Man artwork decorates the left side, and Galaga artwork is on the right.
As mentioned, the machine includes three arcade classics developed by Namco in the early 1980s.
- Galaga (1981)
- Ms. Pac-Man (1982)
- Dig Dug (1982)
The full dimensions for the machine are 8.7 x 9.4 x 13.11 inches, and it only weighs 6.3 pounds. Though designed to be played on a flat surface like a desk or countertop, it’s light enough to rest on your lap while you’re on the couch. You don’t even need to be near an outlet, because the Class of ’81 Countercade can be powered by the included Micro-USB cable or four AA batteries (not included).
If you hate Micro-USB as much as we do, grab this Amazon Basics charger kit with four AA batteries for $12.
$130 (was $150)
The Pac-Man Countercade originally launched last November. It has the same core design as Class of ’81, just with a classic Pac-Man theme and a trio of Pac-Man games:
- Pac-Man (1980)
- Super Pac-Man (1982)
- Pac-Mania (1987)
Unlike Class of ’81, the Pac-Man Countercade maintained its original $150 MSRP when it resurfaced on Amazon in September. It received its first discount during Black Friday. After selling for full price earlier this month, the Pac-Man Countercade is available once again for its Black Friday price.
As of December 22, this deal is in stock at Amazon and Best Buy. Walmart was offering the same deal but has since sold out of units.
My Arcade: Budget-friendly Handheld Arcade Machines
For an even smaller countertop machine check out My Arcade’s sprawling lineup of officially licensed miniature arcade players. My Arcade has experimented with a bunch of different form factors, but we’d recommend the Joystick Player collection, because these models have conventional arcade sticks. Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga Joystick Players are on sale for $50 (was $60) at Amazon. The Pac-Man Joystick Player is temporarily out of stock at Amazon, but you can still place an order for $60. Galaga has 3.2-inch HD display, while the Pac-Man editions have slightly larger 3.5-inch HD displays. My Arcade also has a Sonic the Hedgehog Joystick Player preloaded with the Sega franchise’s first two platforming classics for Genesis.
Sonic is also featured in My Arcade’s new Mighty Player series, which have the same 3.5-inch screens but are 6 x 7.5 x 11 inches–not too much smaller than the Arcade1Up Countercades. Other My Arcade machines are essentially handhelds, but Mighty Player editions are proper countertop cabinets.
Just keep in mind the Mighty Players appear to have slightly smaller sticks and buttons. The $120 Sonic the Hedgehog Mighty Player includes four games: Sonic, Sonic 2, Sonic Spinball, and Sonic 3D Blast. There’s also a $120 Pac-Man 45th Anniversary Mighty Player arcade with a stylish design and four games: Pac-Man, Pac-Man Plus, Super Pac-Man, and Pac & Pal. My Arcade also recently launched a commemorative Pac-Man 45th Anniversary Pocket Player Max handheld with a matching carrying case for $70.
